A heat exchanger for vehicles

Abstract

 It comprises a plastic frame (1) that includes an inside chamber (11), as well as a wide mouth in order to introduce inside the chamber (11) an independent radiator body (10) with cooling fins (6). The mouth finally closes by means of a sealing cover (4) integral with the radiator body.
In turn, the frame (1) comprises an inlet duct and another air outlet duct, as well as some end anchoring supports (3, 3').
The independent radiator body (10) is made of metal and also includes a coolant inlet (12) and an outlet (12') in order to permit the circulation of such fluid in order to be able to transmit its heat to the gaseous fluid.

Description

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The invention consists of a heat exchanger for vehicles, which is used essentially to raise the temperature of the air taken into the engine, above all at specific moments when the technical requirements need to have hotter air.

[0002] Another use could be to reduce the temperature of the air coming from the turbocompressor.

[0003] These exchangers normally use the coolant itself as the fluid having heat, since the variation or rise of temperature will be carried out in some values no higher than the operating temperature of the engine.

[0004] More specifically, this technical need to raise at certain moments the temperature of the inlet air is related to the use of particle filters for the exhaust, above all in turbocharged diesel engines. With this rise of temperature of the inlet air, the combustion temperature needed to regenerate the particle filters rises every so often.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0005] Some heat exchangers for vehicles consist of a hollow body with a cylindrical shape that have some metal materials in their entire structure.

[0006] This cylindrical-shaped body is crossed longitudinally by several tubes for the passage of air between which the liquid having heat is made to recirculate.

[0007] This type of tube exchanger is characterized in that the air-wall exchange surface is notably identical to the wall-liquid exchange surface, for which reason it is mainly suitable to carry out a heat exchange between fluids of the same nature, for example, between two liquids.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The heat exchanger for vehicles that constitutes the object of the invention is characterized in that it comprises a molded plastic frame that includes in a single body the air inlet and outlet ducts located in opposite ends. This frame also includes the anchoring supports.

[0009] In turn, the frame is characterized in that it has a wide mouth that permits the assembly and coupling of inside elements inside it, such as a radiator body that includes several flat conduits that permit the circulation of a liquid fluid from the inlet to the outlet, both forming part of the radiator body.

[0010] Furthermore, this radiator body is characterized in that it includes a multitude of panel type cooling fins, that define longitudinal air passages that favor the circulation of air that enters through the inlet duct and comes out through the outlet duct taking heat from the cooling body assembly that is located inside the frame, at the same time that said cooling body has an essentially metal structure. With this arrangement the air-wall exchange surface increases in such a way that the ratio between this liquid-wall exchange surface is in a proportion higher than 2:1.

[0011] In turn, the mouth of this frame is closed by means of a metal cover that is fastened by means of a type of perimetric rivet, after insertion of an elastic seal.

[0012] This cover constitutes an element for fastening the radiator body assembly and it is integral thereto.

[0013] On the other hand, the bottom of the frame opposite the space occupied by the mouth could optionally constitute that bottom, an independent element, in other words, a second cover that would couple to the frame like the first one.

[0014] With this arrangement, we increase the yield of exchange between the air and the liquid element, such as for example water, since these elements have a very different fluid-wall thermal transmittance, for which reason it is convenient to increase the contact surface of the air with the exchange wall in order to compensate its lower thermal transmission coefficient. This is achieved by adding the secondary surface formed by the fins welded to the sheets forming the liquid passages.

[0015] The bottom of the frame includes some reinforcement ribs in order to prevent deformation or breakage due to pressure.

[0016] In terms of the operating temperature range, the frame could be made out of other materials, for example aluminum, although plastic is the most advisable material, since it is economical with a low thermal transmittance at the same time that it is a good insulator, which prevents heat from leaking outside, which will reduce the heating of air, the main purpose of this exchange of the invention.

[0017] With this new exchanger we obtain a notable yield, the air inside the compartment of the frame where the metal structure radiator body assembly is located, heats rapidly.

[0018] Likewise, this type of exchanger can be used to cool air coming from the turbocompressor before it enters the engine cylinders.

[0019] Hereinafter to provide a better understanding of this specification and forming an integral part thereof, some figures in which the object of the invention has been represented in an illustrative and non-restrictive manner, are accompanied.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] 

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a heat exchanger for vehicles that constitutes the object of the invention.

Figure 2 shows a sectioned plan view of the exchanger.

Figure 3 shows a raised view of the exchanger with a partial section.

Figure 4 shows a bottom plan view of the exchanger of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0021] Hereinafter an embodiment of the invention taking into account the numbering used in the figures, is described.

[0022] It comprises a molded plastic frame (1), that has in a single body the air inlet duct and outlet duct (2, 2') and the anchoring supports (3, 3'). Said frame (1) is open at one of its sides by means of a wide mouth for assembly of the inside elements, with the particularity of having the cooling fins (6) constituting the panel crosswise, with the air passages arranged longitudinally in order to favor the circulation of said air fluid that follows the path of these air passages.

[0023] Just like in conventional radiators, these fins are arranged between the different sheets (7) constituting flat conduits, where the fluid will circulate.

[0024] These fins, together with the sheets (7), constitute a radiator body assembly (10) that is adjusted in the inside chamber (11) of the frame (1). This radiator body (10) also includes an inlet conduit (12) for water or another liquid fluid and another outlet conduit (12') for this liquid fluid. Likewise, the liquid could circulate in the reverse direction if it were convenient for its assembly in the vehicle.

[0025] With this arrangement we increase the air-water exchange yield, since they are elements with a different thermal transmittance (frame and radiator body), for which reason, it is convenient to increase the exchange surface.

[0026] Another characteristic of the invention is that the sheet (4) functions like a support of the radiator assembly inside the frame and in turn it functions like a cover of the container or frame (1), fastening thereto by means of a type of rivet or fold (8) that clamps a perimetric projection (13) that limits said mouth of the frame, achieving a seal with the frame by insertion of an elastic seal (8').

[0027] Although the preferred embodiment only provides for a metal cover (4), it could optionally be made with two covers, in which case the second one would be arranged in replacement of the bottom (5) of the container or frame (1).

[0028] With regard to said bottom (5), the existence of some reinforcement ribs (9) in order to prevent its deformation or breakage due to pressure should be pointed out.

[0029] In order to better support the pressure of the liquid, it is convenient, but not essential, to have a final sheet (7') which in turns functions as protection for the end fins.

[0030] In terms of the operating temperature range, the frame (1) could be made out of other materials, for example, aluminum, although plastic is the most advisable one, since it is economical and has a low thermal transmittance, which will prevent heat from leaking outside, which would reduce the heating of air, the main purpose of this exchanger of the invention.

Claims

1. A heat exchanger for vehicles, that including an inlet and outlet for the air to be heated, as well as an inlet and outlet for the liquid fluid that transmits its heat to the air in order to raise the temperature thereof characterized in that it comprises

- a frame of molded material that includes an ample inside chamber (11) that communicates with the outside through at least one wide side mouth and the two end conduits comprising the air inlet (2) and outlet (2'), this chamber also including some extensions comprising an anchoring support (3, 3');

- an independent metal radiator body (10) that is housed inside the inside chamber (11) through the wide side mouth of the frame (1), said radiator body (10) including the liquid fluid inlet duct (12) and liquid fluid outlet duct (12');

- at least one sealing cover (4) that is fastened hermetically, that functions as a support of the assembly with the insertion of an elastic seal (8') on the perimetric edge of the mouth of said frame (1).

2. A heat exchanger for vehicles, according to claim 1, characterized in that the radiator body (10) includes panel type cooling fins (6) established between the sheet-like elements (7, 7') of this type of radiator (10), sheet-like elements that constitute the passages for fluid between the fluid inlet (12) and fluid outlet (12').

3. A heat exchanger for vehicles, according to claim 2, characterized in that the cooling fins (6) define air passages in the direction that the air circulates from the inlet (2) to the outlet (2') that form part of the frame (1).

4. A heat exchanger for vehicles, according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sealing cover (4) is defined by a metal element integral to the radiator body assembly (10).

5. A heat exchanger for vehicles, according to claim 1, characterized in that the metal cover (4) is fastened to the mouth of the frame (1) by means of a perimetric fold (8) that clamps a perimetric projection (13) that limits the mouth of the frame (1) with the insertion of a seal (8').

6. A heat exchanger for vehicles, according to claim 1, characterized in that the outside frame (1) includes the fastening supports (3, 3'), all of which are molded in a single piece.

7. A heat exchanger for vehicles, according to claim 1, characterized in that the radiator body (10) includes cooling fins (6) established between the sheet-like elements (7, 7') of this type of radiator (10), increasing the air-wall exchange surface in such a way that the ratio between this surface and the liquid-wall exchange surface is in a proportion higher than 2:1.

8. A heat exchanger for vehicles, according to claim 7, characterized in that it is installed and used to heat intake air of an engine provided with a particle filter.

9. A heat exchanger for vehicles, according to claim 1, characterized in that the sheet (4) functions as a support of the radiator assembly within the frame (1), at the same time that it functions as a cover of the container or frame (1).

Drawing